I'm going to die today.

Those are the five words which are constantly ringing throughout my head, contaminating every inch of my being. I'm going to die today, and there's nothing I can do about it.

Why does my brain have to be so goddamn negative? Why can't I just be optimistic - I will totally not die today and neither will anyone else... Well of course except for Harry, and maybe some other people who work for him out of free choice.

Harry is going to die.

That seems to calm my raging anxiety down.

Valentino sits beside me, typing away on his phone as if this is just another day. Maybe it is for him - Maybe what's about to go down is the norm.

And this is why I didn't want to inherit my fathers mafia.

I can't deal with all this constant pain and suffering, I just wanted to live a happy life, get married, have some kids. I'm even thinking in past tense now... Does that mean my hope for a normal life has completely diminished?

I don't even know how I would get back into a normal life now. That would mean leaving everything I've known for the past few months behind. It would mean leaving Dante and Hailey, Alistair and Matteo behind.

Matteo.

What do I even do with that man?

I've fallen for the man who dragged me into this mess. Maybe it's best if I escape from him before he causes me any more damage.

Who am I kidding, I don't think I'd be able to leave him behind.

Could I?

I push all thoughts aside. I need to be concentrating on the task ahead of me, not the life I wish I had.

"How much longer until we arrive?" I ask Valentino.

He doesn't look away from his screen, and his brows only seem to furrow in mild annoyance.

"What are you, a child? Non so perché cazzo Matteo sta facendo tutto questo per te." (I don't know why the fuck Matteo is doing all this for you.) He mumbles.

"What is your problem with me?" I question. This dude has treated me as though I'm nothing but a nuisance since when I met him last night. Does he have something against me?

Valentino crosses his legs and leans back in his chair, turning his head to me with a devilish expression of anger across his beautiful face. "My problem is that my girlfriend is putting herself in the line of fire, to save your ass. You - A girl that neither of us had even known existed until the other day." He spits.

I dig my nails into my palm and look down, away from the man's burning gaze.

I guess that is a good enough reason to have formulated hatred towards me. If Angelina dies, it's going to be because of me, because she chose to help me, putting her own life at risk. And if she dies, I won't have anyone else to blame but myself.

"I didn't ask for your help." I mumble.

Valentino laughs. "Trust me when I say if I had a choice in the matter, I wouldn't have even entertained the idea of helping Matteo. I am only paying what is owed, nothing more."

"So this is just between you and Matteo?"

"Sì."

"Then why is Angelina with you?" I know it isn't my place to be asking this man questions, but my curiosity seems to be getting the best of me.

"Because Angelina wanted to come. She is my equal in every way, and I would never refuse her a good fight." He replies, with the ghost of a smile across his face, as if reminiscing on a happy memory.

"It sounds like you really love her." I remark.

"I do. Lei è tutto per me." (She is everything to me.)

My heart flutters at his beautiful words. What I would do to be madly in love like that. To be in a relationship that garners respect and equality between the both parties.

Will I ever get that from Matteo? Have I already gotten that from him?

Every part of me aches at the thought that I may never see him again - That I could've said my last goodbye and I wouldn't even know it.

I'm scared of what the future holds. And I'm scared it's out of my hands.

***

"We are here." Valentino states as the car pulls up to large iron gates, manned by eight security guards - four on either side.

As the car comes to a stop, the driver rolls down his window, and one of the guards comes up to it. "Your name?" He asks.

"Valentino Russo and Angelina Colombo." The driver says.

The security guard looks through the iPad in his hands until he's satisfied, and nods, giving permission for the gates to open.

Once the gates are fully open, the driver begins the journey through the gloomy graveyard. It's appearance from the outside did well to fool me, as I had thought it was merely a large garden. However the further we drive into the place, the more open fields full of tombstones I see.

"Make sure your veil is on right. You don't want it falling off in this wind." Valentino says.

I can tell he's beginning to get irky, as his leg bobs up and down, and he wrestles with the phone in his hands. It gives me some peace to know that I'm not the only one who fears what's ahead of us.

Feeling the gun against my leg, I close my eyes and imagine the sight of Harry's lifeless body.

I can do this.

Before I know it, the car is parked and we have officially arrived.

With one last check on my veil, Valentino opens the car door and I step out.

Instantly I'm met with the bitter cold, and strong wind which whips at my dress, causing me to have to latch onto it, so it doesn't fly upwards exposing the gun lying beneath.

"Take my arm." Valentino says, holding it out for me to take.

Slipping my arm through his, I survey the perimeter, my gaze landing on a large tent ahead of us, housing those who have already arrived.

We begin our ascent up the hill while I cling onto Valentino for dear life.

"Don't worry, everything will go to plan." He reassures, his tone dark.

Though it's not the plan I'm worried about - It's seeing my father. Seeing his lifeless and pale body, no longer containing the soul which it once held. I've been so wrapped up in killing Harry, that I've forgotten that I'm attending my own fathers funeral. The man who's I've loved with my whole heart, my entire life.

Now that we're closer to the tent, I can see the excessive amount of guards, patrolling the perimeter. They stand out the side of the tent, checking people's names.

These must be Harry's people - My father's men.

I wonder if they know what Harry did. That he was the one who killed their boss, or maybe they were in on it.

"Names." The guard asks as we finally reach the entrance.

"Valentino Rossi and Angelina Colombo." Valentino states.

Once they double check our names, they give us a nod, allowing us entrance.

As soon we enter the tent, the cold disappears, replaced with the warmth of a heater. There is no longer wind, and nothing but the sound of quiet chatter.

The tent looks much larger from the inside, with rows and rows of seats. It looks like this place could seat at least one-hundred people. I doubt I even know any of the people who will be attending - And yet all of these people would no doubt have been heavily influenced by my father. I guess it just shows how much I missed out on Dad's life.

"Did you ever meet my father?" I ask Valentino, making sure to keep my voice to a low whisper.

"I did, Roman was an honourable man. He has my respect, and everyone's within this room. Even his adversaries respected him." Valentino says. "You should be proud to be his daughter."

"I am." I mumble with a small smile across my face.

This only makes me want to know more about the man my father was, and the journeys and adventures he had throughout his life.

We move cautiously through the groups of mingling people until we are but metres away from my fathers coffin. It lies open, exposed for the world to see.

Now I feel sick to my stomach, and the sensation of burning tears leaking from my eyes. Thank god for this veil, because I don't think I would've been able to get away with the reaction I'm having now.

"We will not be able to look for long, otherwise people will be suspicious." Valentino mumbles. "Are you ready?"

I nod my head, and swallow the fear.

Taking shaky steps forward, we reach the coffin, and my eyes fall down to look at the body of my father.

He looks alive. With his skin preserved, it doesn't seem like the man before me is dead - And has been for a while. He looks like he has colour, not like he's a lifeless corpse. With his hands rested carefully over his chest, he looks like he's in a peaceful slumber, not one that is to last forever.

I can't stop the tears which fall down my face, and as I try to bite back to sobs which want to escape my lips, I feel the undying pain burning within my throat.

"Let's go." Valentino says, pulling me away from my father.

I don't object, though my eyes don't leave the body until we are far enough that I can no longer see him.

It feels like I've lost a part of my soul, a part of my identity.

I basically have. My father is gone, and there's nothing to bring him back.

I don't know how long Valentino and I stand around, but it's for a significant amount of time - Enough so that the tent has pretty much filled up with people. Though, I haven't yet seen Matteo, Angelina, Luca, Stefano or Antonio.

It has me worried. Were they stopped from coming in? Has Harry realised our plan, has he already put an end to it, before it has even begun?

I stare at the entrance, as if it's my lifeline.

I haven't even seen Harry yet. What if he doesn't show, and this is a trap?

My insides finally jump as I see the familiar comforting face of Matteo enter the tent, with Angelina at his side. They look like some power couple, both of them exuding confidence. It's intimidating, and the worst part of me is sparked with jealousy.

Valentino seems to also notice their entrance, and I feel him stiffen beside me.

Matteo doesn't look around, his eyes are firmly set upon the casket at the end of the tent, as if he's on a mission.

The disguise of the veil works perfectly for Angelina, and there's no way to tell that she isn't me. Not unless she took the veil off.

Once they reach the coffin, the whole tent seems to go silent, as everyone stares in anticipation. Does everyone know that I am supposed to be here? Does everyone finally know that I exist?

Angelina and Matteo stand at the coffin for at least a minute before they finally pull away - the tension within the room becoming palpable.

The couple make their way to the opposite side of the room, and take their seats beside people who I have never seen before.

I feel my body loosen in relief. It worked. We got into the funeral successfully and so far it appears that no one suspects a thing. But I can't seem to shake the feeling that Harry's absence is anything but a good thing.

As time passes, Luca, Stefano and Adriano enter the funeral along with others. The tension within the tent is thick, and everyone seems to be waiting for it to finally snap. It seems everyone knows that something is going to go down today.

Suddenly the tent fills with an eerie silence and from my seat I turn my head to see the people who have just entered the tent.

"It's Harry." Valentino mumbles quietly to me.

My mouth falls agape at the sight before me. My brother who hates me - The man who wants me dead. And on his arm, the only person in this world who I would die for.

Mum.

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